“It wasn’t so much what she said as the way she said it: straight-forward, serious, with the merest twinkle in her eye.”
Sherri finished her pie, pushed back the plate. “And then she whipped out the card containing her phone number.”
Nathan shook his head. “And then she walked back to her barstool and pulled out her phone. Basically ignored me.”
“And waited for the bait to take hold.”
“Perhaps. But considering the types of bold and aggressive women out there and the insulting ways I’ve been approached, it was refreshing.” Nathan finished his pie as well. “See, you’ve been out of the game too long to know what it’s like out here right now. Married for going on sixteen years and with Randall for what, three or four years before y’all tied the knot? Hell, I think the Cabbage Patch Doll was all the rage the last time you had to flirt with someone not your husband. That or the Model T.” He dodged Sherri’s punch. “I’ll admit that men in Atlanta have women coming at us every way and every day; beautiful, successful, educated women. It’s easy to get jaded, to tell you the truth.Which is probably why I found Jessica’s simplicity refreshing. She’s never tried to impress me by being anything other than herself.”
“Where’d she go to school?”
“She didn’t.”
“No degree?” Nathan shook his head. “Wow.”
“If you’ll remember, your dual-degreed brother was temporarily unemployed not so long ago.”
“Only because your company down-sized and could no longer afford you. And only because you could afford to be selective in choosing your next job, which is netting you a cool six figures.” She looked around, lowered her voice. “Does Jessica know this? Does she know that you own your own home, and how much you’re making?”
“Sherri . . .”
“I know your nose is wide open and all, but I’m just throwing up the caution sign, that’s all. That’s what big sisters do.”
“I know a gold digger when I see one. You should know that better than anyone.”
Sherri nodded, knowing exactly who Nathan was talking about. A woman he’d met online last year had wormed her way into his home and bed long enough to try and steal his identity along with his bank accounts.
“You’re normally a good judge of character, baby bro, and normally I wouldn’t be overly concerned. But given what happened to me and Randall last year . . .”
“You have every right to be skeptical, and I have every intention of listening to your advice. I’ll do a background check before things go much farther. I’ll be careful, Sherri. But it’s been a long time since I’ve felt about someone the way I feel about Jessica. That’s why I wanted her to meet the people most important to me.”
Sherri stood and hugged her brother. “I want nothing more than to see you happy, Nathan. I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed that this one works out, and that Jessica will be everything you desire . . . and more.”
On the other side of the tastefully-appointed home, and one level up, a conversation similar to the one Nathan and Sherri were having was happening with Jessica and Sherri’s best friend.
“Nathan is like a brother to me,” Renee said as the two ladies watched the dancing flames in the sitting room’s fireplace. “He’s one of the good ones. So if you mess with him, then you’re going to have to deal with more than his family.” Her tone was light, she chuckled even, but there was something in her eyes that suggested she was as serious as a brain tumor.
Jessica’s response was guarded. “I see.”
Renee’s eyes narrowed a bit as she eyed the attractive woman with flawless brown skin, luscious lips, mesmerizing eyes, and hourglass figure. It was easy to see why Nathan would have been intrigued by the package. However considering the type of women he usually dated—vivacious, outgoing, and attractively confident—Renee had yet to understand why he’d fell so hard for the contents inside the pretty wrapping. Determined to find out, she decided to try and lighten the mood.
“How did the two of you meet?”
“At a sports bar.”
“You’re into sports? I like a good game, too; mainly because of the fine men playing them.” This time her light laughter elicited a brief smile.
“Honestly, I barely know a lay-up from a field goal. But I like the establishment’s ambiance. Plus, they make the best martinis, spinach and artichoke dip, and spicy wings that I’ve ever tasted.”
“I love a great martini. I’ll have to make sure and visit it the next time I’m in Atlanta. You do live in Atlanta, correct?”
“I do.” Jessica paused and took a sip of the spiced tea that the two ladies had been drinking, except that Renee’s had been enhanced by a shot of brandy. “Renee, it’s understandable that you’d be curious about the new love interest of one of your dear friends. But I’m an extremely private person and quite honestly, your interrogation is making me uncomfortable.”
Renee reared back. Her voice raised a notch. “Interrogation? Girl, that’s a strong word for simple chit-chat. It was not my intention to pry.”
“I’m sure it was not, so please don’t take this personally.” Jessica stood. “It’s not you. It’s me. It was nice meeting you but if you don’t mind, I’m going to find Nathan. It’s been a long, full day and I’m just about ready to turn in.”
With that, Jessica left the room. Renee watched her exit, her mind whirling with questions from front to back. Renee’s life had pretty much been an open book. There was very little of herself that she didn’t share with those around her. So on one hand, Jessica had every right to not answer Renee’s questions. But on the other hand, the young woman’s response had left her feeling uncomfortable, and she didn’t know why. Yes, she was very attractive. Yes, she seemed nice enough. But there was something about her that made Renee’s brow crease. She slowly sipped her brandy-spiced tea and tried to figure out why.
She was still pondering the conversation moments later, when Sherri walked in. “Hey, sis. What’s got your face all scrunched up?”
“An interesting conversation I just had with Nathan’s friend.” She put emphasis on the last word. “Are they gone?”
Sherri rushed over to her best friend and sat beside her. “Girl, yes. And I couldn’t wait to come talk to you and get your take.What happened?”
Renee told her. “I’ve replayed the conversation in my mind. I am direct and very forward, as you know. But she should know that nobody in this house, the house of the sister of the man she’s dating, means her harm. I just found it a bit odd that she was so guarded, that’s all.”
“I thought I was the only one who saw it like that. Throughout the day—while hanging in the kitchen, when she and Nathan were chilling in the solarium, after the guys had come back from playing ball—I went out of my way to engage her. She was nice enough, and seems genuinely taken with my baby bro.”
“Who wouldn’t be?”
“But, like you said, there’s something about her that . . . I don’t know . . . just gives me pause.” They were both silent a moment. A log broke, causing the fire to pop and flare as the wood rearranged itself in the large hearth. “Do you think it’s because of what happened to my family last year, all of the drama and mayhem caused by you-know-who?”
“Could be,” Renee said with a sigh, an involuntary shudder accompanying the memories of that unspeakable event. “None of us will ever look at strangers quite the same way again.”
“That’s very true. You know what? I’m not going to turn into a paranoid skeptic. Nathan is an intelligent, astute man. So I’m going to trust his instincts and give Jessica the benefit of the doubt until or unless she does something that causes me to think otherwise.”
“I don’t know, girl. A man’s thinking isn’t always straight when he’s using the other head. And trust me, one look at that girl’s cute bubble booty and you already know. His other head is getting a work out.”
“Nay, really? I needed that information? That’s my brother we’re talking about.�
�
Renee’s answer nonchalantly. “All the more reason to say what you already know.”
The women continued talking well into the night, their conversation going from Nathan to Renee’s latest beau, to Sherri’s new, part-time teaching job to Randall’s upcoming trips. In the back of both of their minds, however, was the topic that had begun this latest chat. The guarded, private Jessica . . . and what was up with that.
CHAPTER 3
She had failed the family test. The signs weren’t glaring like they’d be on a school paper, when one expecting a gold star instead received red marks and a minus sign. They were subtle, like the way Sherri gave her brother a big bear hug while offering Jessica a brief squeeze and tight smile. Or how Sherri’s friend, Renee, looked rather dubious when told it had been good to meet her. Nathan’s mother, Miss Elaine, was definitely the kindest of the bunch, and probably the nicest as well. The men, especially Nathan’s brother-in-law Randall, had been cordial but kept their distance. The other wives and girlfriends seemed distant at best. Not that she cared about them. The ones she wanted to win over were Miss Elaine and Sherri, and in this instance one out of two wasn’t good enough. Especially given what was at stake, what she’d promised both herself and others. Especially given that Nathan was head and shoulders above any other man she’d ever known.
Having watched his family interact, she could only imagine what they must have thought about her actions, could only guess at the conversations that took place after they’d left. It was obvious to anyone watching that Nathan had grown up in a loving, trusting environment, where sharing one’s thoughts and feelings was expected, even encouraged. Jessica’s childhood home had been filled with secrets and silence. From early on, she’d learned to shield her thoughts and guard her privacy. For her, personal conversations did not come easy. Old habits died hard.
If only I hadn’t . . .
Jessica jumped up from the couch and walked to the window of her second-floor condo near Five Points. Of all the things she’d been thinking about since the weekend she’d spent with Nathan—first with his family in Virginia and then with his D.C. friends—what could, should, and would have been wasn’t part of the process. It was Sunday evening. After being practically inseparable from Nathan for four straight days, some of the happiest of her life, she was back home. It had been less than an hour, but already felt like days. For the first time in a very long time she felt bereft and very alone.
A song came on the radio. Jessica smiled. It was one of Nathan’s all-time favorites, or so he’d told her the first time they’d heard it together, the night after meeting him at the sports bar. Jessica walked back to the couch, plopped down and grabbed a pillow as her mind drifted back to the night she’d spotted him across the room.
There ought to be a law.
That’s what Jessica thought as she looked across the crowded restaurant and beheld a table filled with caramel and chocolate testosterone. She lazily sipped a pomegranate martini, swinging a stiletto-clad foot as she watched them: laughing, scoping, sipping, too. They were all handsome but one stood out, and for more reasons than one. He was tall, at least six feet, which although she was only five foot three, she preferred. Nattily dressed, his eyes were expressive and his smile was easy. The group of four men was in a lively discussion. The one she watched spoke little but when he did, the others listened attentively to what he had to say.
A couple of times their eyes had met. After hearing snatches of conversation as she passed their table on her way to the bathroom, she stopped and boldly made her move. At her declaration of his superior position, Nathan had nodded with a casual smile. One of the guys blatantly flirted. But she’d walked away from the table as quickly as she’d come, had returned to her seat and become engrossed in something online. She’d finished her drink and believed a rendezvous with the handsome stranger a lost cause until she’d reached the door, felt a hand on her shoulder, and turned to find that same sexy, self-assured smile that had drawn her to his table now on display just for her.
They’d gone to dinner the next night, and dancing the night after that. The following weekend they’d enjoyed a neo-soul concert and the weekend after that they’d enjoyed each other. Nathan was a skillful, thoughtful lover, which she’d expected. What she hadn’t expected was to develop real feelings for him. Nor had she expected such feelings to be reciprocated.
No, that hadn’t been a part of the plan at all.
Her ringing cell phone brought Jessica out of her musings. Seeing the name on the Caller ID only further muddled her mood. “Hey.”
“Hey, girl. What’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing. Just thinking.”
“About what?”
She hesitated. “Nathan.”
“That’s why I’m calling. How was Thanksgiving?”
“Fine. He has a nice family.” This elicited a snort from the other end. “I know you might not feel that way, but it’s true. His mother treated me kindly and his sister, too.”
“Sounds like everything is working according to plan, working out just the way we’d hoped. His taking you around the family is a sure sign that he’s falling for you, that he trusts you. Once you gain a person’s trust, anything can happen.”
“It’s not about trust. It’s about love. I believe I’m falling in love with him.”
A sarcastic laugh and then, “What’s love got to do with anything? No, don’t answer. I’ll tell you. Nothing. Absolutely nothing.”
“Being around his family showed me what I’ve never had but always wanted; I used to talk about it. Remember?”
“Yes, you always were the dreamer, the believer in fairy tales. But this is life, not a story book, and blood is thicker than water. You remember that.”
DAFINA BOOKS are published by
Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street
New York, NY 10018
Copyright © 2014 by Lutishia Lovely
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
Dafina and the Dafina logo Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM Off.
ISBN: 978-0-7582-8665-9
eISBN-13: 978-0-7582-8667-3
eISBN-10: 0-7582-8667-8
First Kensington Electronic Edition: June 2014
The Perfect Affair Page 29